Rights body urges reversal of budget cuts

THE Irish Human Rights Commission has appealed to the Government to reverse drastic cuts to its budget and warned any failure to do so will threaten its ability to carry out its functions.

Ahead of the launch of its annual report today, the commission’s president told the Irish Examiner that the human rights group was struggling to cope with its workload.

Dr Maurice Manning said the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) was in discussion with officials from Justice Minister Dermot Ahern’s office about overturning changes to its budget, which has been cut by nearly a third.

“The commission has found it difficult to cope with what amounted to a 32% cut in its budget this year. The commission has continued to talk to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform with a view to procuring at least a partial reversal of this cut.”

The commission will today detail its work in 2008, including its review of criminal legislation as well as representations to the courts. However, its role next year looks set to be limited or possibly even halted if the Government cutbacks are not reversed, added its president.

“If the commission is not successful in this regard, there is a serious risk that it will be unable to perform its statutory functions. In the meantime, we have implemented significant cost-cutting measures.”

Following last October’s emergency budget, it was announced the commission’s funds would be slashed by 24%. This cut is actually 32% following its receipt of extra funds in late 2008.

The change has seen its then budget of €2.34 million dropped to €1.56m.

The commission’s mandate includes promotion and protection of human rights in Ireland, in co-operation with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

In late 2007, the commission clashed with the Government when it criticised the use of Shannon Airport by US planes involved in “extraordinary renditions” of people to detention centres suspected of torture.

Its annual report includes details of its appearances before the High Court and Supreme Court as a “friend of the court” in 2008 where it represented a range ofhuman rights concerns including accommodation of Traveller families, the criminal trespass legislation, data protection, refugee cases and local authority housing.